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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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| The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind by Tom GriffithsTom Griffiths, director of Princeton’s Computational Cognitive Science Lab, fascinates with an accessible survey of the attempts to reduce human thought to a discreet set of mathematical principles. While some approaches have proved useful in modelling certain kinds of problem solving, the failure of any single framework to capture the mind’s versatility is at the center of Griffiths' book, and has implications for the development of AI. For fans of: How to Create a Mind by Ray Kurzweil. |
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| Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health by Roxanne KhamsiScience journalist Roxanne Khamsi’s well-researched debut offers a peek at cutting-edge genetics and the idea that our DNA is not static, as previously thought, but constantly mutating, in as many as trillions of occurrences daily. Geneticists hope that better understanding these naturally occurring mutations will give us a window into the cause of genetic diseases like cancer and, more importantly, how best to treat them. For a similar read, try From One Cell: A Journey into Life’s Origins and the Future of Medicine by Ben Stanger. |
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Cats: A History
by Rod Phillips
A sweeping and fascinating history of cat-human relationships. For more than 10,000 years, cats have prowled at the edges of human life. But, starting only a few decades ago, hundreds of millions of them became pets. In Cats, Rod Phillips shares a sweeping cultural and social history of felines, tracing their shifting place across societies and centuries, from ancient Egypt's revered hunters to Europe's suspected familiars of witches and from shipboard rodent controllers to cherished internet icons.
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Leave the Lights on: How Joyful Decisions Can Save Our Species
by Elizabeth Dunn
What if the most effective ways to fight climate change made you happy? Psychologist Elizabeth Dunn and climate behavior scientist Jiaying Zhao challenge everything we think we know about sustainable living. While most climate advice demands self-denial--eat less, travel less, want less--this groundbreaking book offers a counterintuitive truth: you can make your life better while saving our species at the same time. Because sustainability doesn't lie in doing everything, it lies in doing something, joyfully.
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Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives
by Darby Saxbe
A groundbreaking exploration of the science and significance of fatherhood that shows great dads are made, not born Over the last decade, we've learned more about the transformative power of parenthood--biologically, psychologically, and socially--than ever before. For fans of science-based storytelling that is also irreverent, funny, and personal, Dad Brain offers an illuminating, empowering, and optimistic new understanding of fatherhood that will become a must-read for every parent.
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Bugs: A Photicular Book
by Dan Kainen
BUGS offers readers an up-close look at bugs in motion and a window into how they move and behave. Science writer Mara Grunbaum provides an opening essay that delves into the fascinating behavior of these wonderful creatures as well as a detailed profile accompanying each image.
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Insect Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs
by Julia Rothman
Millions of species of insects fly, crawl, dig, swarm, and eat on every continent. Our very existence depends on them; without pollinators, we would have no food, and without decomposers, the world would be covered in decaying plant and animal material. With her signature style, Julia Rothman delves into this incredible world, uncovering amazing facts about bees, beetles, butterflies, and so much more.
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The Mind of a Bee
by Lars Chittka
A rich and surprising exploration of the intelligence of bees. Most of us are aware of the hive mind--the power of bees as an amazing collective. But do we know how uniquely intelligent bees are as individuals? In The Mind of a Bee, Lars Chittka draws from decades of research, including his own pioneering work, to argue that bees have remarkable cognitive abilities. Exploring an insect whose sensory experiences rival those of humans, The Mind of a Bee reveals the singular abilities of some of the world's most incredible creatures.
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Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse
by Dave Goulson
Insects are essential for life as we know it. As they become more scarce, our world will slowly grind to a halt; we simply cannot function without them. Drawing on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime's study, Dave Goulson reveals the shocking decline of insect populations that has taken place in recent decades, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Eye-opening, inspiring and riveting, Silent Earth is part love letter to the insect world, part elegy, part rousing manifesto for a greener world.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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